Ecological transcriptomics of lake-type and riverine sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka).

ABSTRACT:

Background

There are a growing number of genomes sequenced with tentative functions assigned to a large proportion of the individual genes. Model organisms in laboratory settings form the basis for the assignment of gene function, and the ecological context of gene function is lacking. This work addresses this shortcoming by investigating expressed genes of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) muscle tissue. We compared morphology and gene expression in natural juvenile sockeye populations related to river and lake habitats. Based on previously documented divergent morphology, feeding strategy, and predation in association with these distinct environments, we expect that burst swimming is favored in riverine population and continuous swimming is favored in lake-type population. In t

SUBMITTER: Pavey SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3295673 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature